Tim Delaney photo
Refugio Police Chief Andy Lopez Jr. is at the scene of a shooting on Dunbar Street where a Victoria man was reported shot at around noon Wednesday, June 26. Dennis Heinold, was found dead by the road. His Dodge SUV is in the foreground and was locked.

• This story has been updated since it was originally published at 2 p.m. Wednesday. It was updated at 4:40 p.m.Friday.

REFUGIO – A Victoria man's death was ruled a suicide from a preliminary autopsy performed in Lockhart, according to Refugio Police Chief Andy Lopez Jr. on Friday, June 28.

Dennis Fred Heinold, 61, had parked his Dodge SUV in the 100 block of Dunbar Street, locked it, purchased a 12 gauge shotgun at a local gun store nearby, walked out behind his vehicle and used the gun to kill himself on Wednesday, June 26.

A resident along the street reported the shooting at 11:55 a.m.

Justice of the Peace Lorraine Lopez pronounced Heinold dead at the scene and ordered the autopsy.

Heinold was a longtime probation officer in DeWiitt County until 2005 when he resigned after 19 years. He then began doing juvenile probation programs in Calhoun County followed by Refugio County, according to Kate Jones, chief juvenile probation officer in Refugio County.

That death is still being investigated, Lopez said.

An earlier death, considered to be unrelated to the first death, in Woodsboro was reported about 3 a.m. But according to Lt. Martin De Leon, the death probably happened three to four hours earlier late Tuesday night.

Paul Lopez, 43, was found covered in blood in his Woodsboro residence back yard in the 700 block of Borden Road, according to a Refugio County Sheriff's Office press release.

The press release also stated, "It appeared that the deceased had been shot."

Details of that death are sketchy, but Refugio County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Sheldon Wigniton said a coroner’s report was prepared, but the details of the preliminary autopsy report were not available, and the death is under investigation.

No weapon was found at the scene, but some .22 casings were found, De Leon said. However, he added that Lopez was known to target practice back behind his house.

"It is strange we did not find any weapons," De Leon said. The body was not touched so the coroner could accurately determine the cause of death.

Justice of the Peace Emi Riemenschneider was at the scene, and pronounced Lopez dead and ordered the autopsy.

More details will be released as they are found out. In the meantime, sheriff's deputies are investigating leads.

Sheriff Robert Bolcik requested that anyone having any information about the case should contact Lt. De Leon or Sgt. Glen Grasham at 361-526-2351.

Wigninton said the sheriff’s units seen in Bayside on Wednesday answered a call that was a non-related item dealing with a domestic dispute.

“Right now, we don’t have anything to say the two incidents are connected,” Refugio Police Chief Lopez said.

Both deaths remain under investigation, and more details will be posted later.

I don't blame chief Lopez for not working with the inexperienced idiots that run the Refugio county sheriffs dept. sheriff bolcik needs to stick with investigating oilfield equipment theft. He has experience in that field too bad Lopez will not run for sheriff He has my vote.

I can't believe you did not mention the faculty comments in your front page story about the board meeting! I was at the meeting and I could not get through HEB the next day without four separate people talking about it.

Don't you think the public has a right to know how the faculty views the new president of CBC?

I believe your information would be a better source coming mostly from the sheriffs office, Due to the fact that only one of the shootings occurred under "Cheif Lopez's" jurisdiction and also due to the fact that on the lack of "Chief Lopez's" social skills and ignorance, he, 95% of the time refuses to work with his local agencies. (He seems to forget he's not a ranger anymore)

Chief Lopez does an outstanding job. I've lived in many communities and have never seen a more personable and efficient police chief.

Refugio Citizen

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June 27, 2013

The Chief is doing an outstanding job. He is a retired Texas Ranger so will always be a Ranger !!!

Refugio Resident

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June 27, 2013

I have to agree with you Concerned Citizen. Mr. Lopez has no social skills and shows his ignorance daily. He's not as concerned about the residents as he is his résumé. I've known him throughout his whole career and am not impressed with him in the least. He works against any other local agency and is on a huge power trip. An officers duty is indeed one of the most dangerous ones but yet he refuses to work together with the sheriffs department. The two forces should work hand in hand to be a stronger more efficient unit. Instead he chooses to isolate the two. I have witnessed his impropriety first hand and am saddened that our community is in the hands of such a person. He has pulled the wool over the eyes of many however my eyes are wide open!

Dr. J Tim Rainey

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June 28, 2013

As a lifelong resident of Refugio County, I have seen the best and the worst of law enforcement officers. Currently, our city is being unselfishly served by one of the best of the best, Chief Andy Lopez.

Each individual develops his or her own style in managing their chosen line of work, and the best will eventually work their way to the top. Chief Lopez’s acceptance into one of the best known and most prestigious law enforcement units in the world, the Texas Rangers, wasn’t a stroke of luck, but through a vetting process by other equally gifted law enforcement officers who chose him to be a member of their ranks.

Previously, in speaking with the city council and others, as well as my community of dental friends from all over the world, I have often mentioned how fortunate we are to have an individual of his caliber represent our community, particularly since he chose to be here when he could easily go virtually anywhere else and at an increase in salary.

Chief Lopez moves quietly through our community, never seeking the spotlight and always on the alert, and that is his style. Whatever it is that makes Chief Lopez one of the most effective of law enforcement officers can’t be improved through clueless sniping by back yard quarterbacks, nor can anything of value be achieved.

Incidentally, being a Ranger doesn’t make man. A man becomes a Ranger because of the man he has made of himself. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. My hat is off to Ranger (and our Chief of Police) Andy Lopez. He has earned my respect as well. Whatever he decides to do and the results he achieves will be due to the professional, thorough, and meticulous investigative process that he has developed though his years of extraordinary experience.